"Here is our place!" exclaimed Gagin as we drew near the house. "And here is the landlady just bringing us our buttermilk. Good evening, madam! We will be there in a moment. But first," he added, "look about you once. What do you say to this outlook?" The view was indeed charming. The Rhine lay before us, a strip of silver between green banks. In one place it glowed in the purple and gold of the sunset. All the houses in the little towns clustering on the shores stood out distinctly; hills and fields spread far before us. Below us it was lovely, but above it was lovelier still. The brilliant transparency of the atmosphere, and the depth and purity of the sky, made a profound impression on me. The air was fresh and exhilarating. It blew with a light wave motion, as if it felt itself more free on the hilltop. "You have chosen a magnificent situation," I said. "Assja found it out," Gagin answered. "Now, Assja, give your orders. Let us have everything brought here. We will take tea in the open air. We can hear the music better here. Haven't you noticed it?" he went on. "A waltz close at hand may be often good for nothing--mere commonplace jingle. It becomes exquisite at a distance; sets all the sentimental strings in one's heart a twanging." Assja (her name was properly Anna; but Gagin always called her Assja, and I shall allow myself that privilege)--Assja went into the house and soon returned with the landlady. Both together they carried a great tea-tray with a jug full of milk, plates, spoons, sugar, berries, and bread. We seated ourselves and began to eat. Assja took off her hat. Her black hair, cut rather short, and curled like a boy's, fell in thick ringlets over neck and shoulders. At first she was shy; but Gagin said to her: "Assja, don't be afraid. He won't hurt you!" She smiled, and immediately addressed a little conversation to me. I have never seen a more restless creature. She did not sit still a moment. She stood up, ran into the house, came out again, sang in an undertone, and laughed often in an odd way. It seemed as if she was not laughing at what she heard, but at stray thoughts which came into her head. Her large, clear eyes looked at us frankly and fearlessly. Now and then, however, the lids fell, and then her glance became suddenly deep and gentle.